Target-trap.



W. I. SPANGLER.

TARGET TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1915.

1, 172,493. Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- W. I. SPANGLER.

. TARGET TRAP.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Feb. 22,1916.

WILLIAM I. SPANGLER, or TARLTON, onro.

TARGET-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 22"1916 Application filed May 14, 1915. Serial No, 28,017.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM I. SPANGLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tarlton, in the. county of Pickaway and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Target-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to target traps wherein the target is only thrown out into space to test the marksmanship of the shooter.

The main object of my invention resides in the provision of a structure whereby the direction of projection of the target from the trap may be altered each time the trap is operated, in order that the target will not be successively projected in the same direction. In this connection my mechanism is also such that the angularities may be varied that the shooter cannot gage the direction of projection.

Still a further object of my invention resides in a structure whereby the change of angularity is effected by the operating mechanism for causing movement of the projecting arm. I

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference designate correspondingparts, and in which:

Figure l is a top plan viewshowing my invention and showing a portion of the target trap in section thereon, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. 1, and, Figs. 3 and a are enlarged plan views showing the angularity changing mechanism in different positions.

In these drawings, the trap as a whole is mounted upon a base designated 1, this base being provided with a suitable supporting casting shown at 2. This casting is'formedwith a downwardly projecting socket portion 3 carrying a ball 4: in its lower end, upon which rests the stub shaft shown at 5, this stub shaft forming the portion to which the stand member designated 6 is attached, this attachment being effected by means of the bolts shown at 7. The. forward end of the stand member 6 is provided with spaced bearing portions 8 into which a stub shaft 9 forming a portion of the throwing arm .0 is rotatably mounted. This throwing arm is also provided with an outstanding ear shown at 11, this ear serving as a convenient means of attachment for the operating ble, connection is attached to the drum shown at 19, which is in turn rigidly mount ed upon the stub shaft 9 of the throwing arm 10. The opposite side of the lower end of the lever 1.6 is pivotally' connected at20 with an operating rod 21, this operating rod passingrearwardly the desired distance and being finally pivotally attached as shown at 22 to an operating handle'23 whose lower end 24: is pivotally mounted upon any suitable support.

known structure now in use, a rearward movement of the handle 23 causing the The operation of the structure thus far described is of a well throwing arm to pivot about its shaft 9 to I 1 swing rearwardly and consequently tension the spring 12. At this point the throwing arm is provided with a target and by means of suitable mechanism, preferably by a forward movement of the handle 23, the arm is released and swung forward to the position shown in Fig. 2, by the tension of the spring 12,which rapid movement causes the throwing of the target by centrifugal force.

In order that the angle of projection of the target may be altered each time a tar getis thrown, I have provided the casting 2 with aprojectionshown at 25 upon which a ratchet wheel 26 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 27. This shaft also loosely carries. an arm 28 whose outer endis provided with a spring pressed pawl 29, this pawl being arranged to engage the teeth on the ratchet wheel 26. To this arm there is also pivotally connected at 80 a connecting rod shown at 31, this connectingrod in turn being attached at its opposite end asshown at 32, to the operating rod 21. The upper surface of the ratchet wheel 26 is also provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting studs 33, these studs being arranged approximately the same distance from the center of the sprocket and being spaced apart unequal distances. A finger 3a is rigidly carried by the stand member 6 and is so shaped to prothe ratchet.

sion of the spiral spring jeot into the path of circular movement of the ratchet 26 as this ratchet is operated, thereby shifting the horizontal position of the stand member. In order to return this stand member to its normal position of starting, as is shown in Fig. 3, after one of the studs 33 has moved beyond a position 01 engagement with the finger 3%, I have provideda spiral spring 35, this spring being rigidly attached at one end, as shownat 36, to the lower end of the stand member 6 and attached at its opposite end as shown at 37 to the casting 2.

The operation of my device is as follows: Each time the handle 23 is moved rearwardly, the pawl 29 passes freely over, the teeth on the ratchet 26, but reverse move ment of the handle 33 causes this pawl 29 to engage the teeth and partially rotate This rotation will bring one of the studs 83 into a position of engage ment with the finger 34:, with the result that the stand member is given a partial turn about its pivotal mounting against the ten- IVhen the ratchet 26 has been rotated far enough to move the engagingstud 33 beyond a, position of engagement with the finger 3st, this stand member will automatically return to the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein the lower end or" this stand. engages a stop 38 located upon the casting 2 and thus limit the return movement oft this stand member.

A. pawl shown at 39 is also mounted upon.

the outer end of the projection 25 of the casting 2 and serves to lock the ratchet against reverse rotation due to the pressure exerted upon the studs 33 by the finger 3i. It will also be noted that these studs33 are located apart unequal "distances so that the angle of projection will not beichanged an equal amount during successive operations.

IV hat I claim, is:

1. In a target trap, a base, a stand pivotally mounted on said base, a. spring normally tending to rotate said stand in one direction, and means operable in opposition to said spring to automatically change the Copies of this. patent may be, obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of-Patents,,

ating said throwing arm, a spring normally tending to rotate said stand inone direction, and means operable 1n opposition to said spring to change the angularity of said stand each time said arm is operated.

In a target trap, a base, stand pivotally mounted on said base, a spring normally tending to rotate said stand in one direction, and. ratchet and pawl mechanism operable in opposition to said springito change the angularity of said stand with respect to said base each time the-trap is operated 4:. In av target trap, a base, a stand ipiv otally mounted on said base, a spring nor-' mally tending to rotate said stand in one direction, a ratchet wheel, studs pro ecting from sald wheel, a pawl structure, a finger carried by said stand arranged to project.

into the path of rotation of said studs,-and

means whereby said ratchet wheelis ro-- tated.

In a target trap, a base, a standpivotally mounted on said base, a springnormally tending to rotate said arm in one direction, a ratchet wheel, studs projecting from said ratchet wheel, a. pawl normally holdingsaid ratchet wheel against rotation in one direction, a finger carried by said stand arranged to project into the pathij of rotation of said studs, an arm pivoted to ratchet wheel, a pawl carried by said arm arranged to. engage said ratchet wheel,

move about the center of rotation otsaid operating mechanism for the trap as a whole, and an operativeconnection between said mechanism and said arm.

In testimony whereofiI aiiiX. my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

, WILLIAM I. srauenne;

W'itnesses:

VVALTER EliL. Boon, A. L. PHELPS.

Washington, 1).0. 

